Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-03
THE SILK INDUSTRY.

Apropos of the discussion OF the silk
industry-its cultivation and prospective
manufacture in Kansas-through the
prints and by Prof. Horner, late superir-
tendent of the state experimental station.
and II view of the stimulus the indus
try is almost sure to receive through
governmental aid. and the further fact
that the industry VIII assume such pro-
portions in Southern Kansas in the near
future as to require local market, which
being established at Wichita as it will be.
naturally, we quote some observations of
Mr.. Edward w. Sherrell, Jr., the great
silk manufacturer of Chabuil, France.
bearing on the points of interest to this
section on that subject:
The people Of America consume more
silk than any other nation, and this con-
sumption is constantly increasing: should
it continue to increase for five years
longer in the same ratio as at present it
will be found that within that time more
silk will be used up annually in the
United States alone than in all other
commercial nations put together
The silk trade and manufacture has
grown to be enormous, and its relation
10 the other interests of the country Is Of
the first Importance for many reasons,
and particularly at this time: because
unless steps are taken to prevent such a
result, there is danger that the agricul-
tural interests VIII be sacrificed, and to
an extent of which few are aware.
More than ten years of careful study
have convinced me that, naturally and
materially speaking, the United States
could, within a very short time, supply
not only its own silk, but much more;
that there is no reason, climatic, mechan-
ical or other, why this should not be &C
cOmplished, and it being accomplished,
at least $50. 900, 900 per annum would be
gained for the country, and distributed
directly to the producers of the country.
Under the law as at present arranged
the manufacturer who can pay but q
quarter value for American cOcoOns car
ries ON his work in the United States
under a protective duty of so per cent.
ad valOren, while the manufacturer who
could pay a full price cannot work in the
United States because his product is not
in any way protected. Hence United
States sericulture is strangled.
Whatever may be thought of the wis
dom of tariff legislation in general, it
will be admitted that in the present
state of affairs it is only right and just
when high duties are maintained for the
benefit OF particular industries, and at
the cost of the whole mass of the people,
that the protection should be so arranged
as to afford as large a market as possible
to American agricultural products, and
under advantageous conditions.
Over two hundred millions of dollars
have been paid by the people to foster
the development of silk production in the
United States, yet the recipients of this
enormous favor use scarcely a pound
of American raw material. Under the
law, as at present in force, it hap
pens that the raw material of foreign
countries is used to the practical excln-
sion of American produce, and even the
manufacture is partly carried on abroad.
The silk manufacturers with the eXcep-
ton Of those who spin up waste, etc. all
import their thread in a reeled state; after
it has passed Through the principal
phase of manufacture.
The country at large is therefore de-
prlved Of the advantages which it has
paid SO largely to secure. Indirectly and
directly it is now taxed to the extent of
about thirty-five millions Of dollars a
year for the benefit of an industry which
is SO organized as to give no advantage
to the American farmer, and beyond
this the present state of the case results
in the sending abroad as tribute to China,
Japan, and other silk growing countries
of the farther sum of about twenty-five
millions Of dollars a year which with
proper legislation in favor of American
labor would go directly into the peck
cts OF the owners of our country homes
There is no reason why this loss should
continue to be borne The tariff laws, so
far as they relate to silk need revision;
they are unjust because based upon ideas
which, whatever may have been said III
their favor in past times, are at present
entirely erroneous.
Tie matter will doubtless be brought
to the attention of congress and there is
strong hope that liberal measures of en-
to the important industry
will be afforded, and that it viii receive
good impetus in this state.